Rolling Stones Release Alternative Version of 'Brown Sugar' Featuring Eric Clapton [LISTEN]

Throughout the Rolling Stone's extensive and illustrious career, fanatics have been familiar with bootleg song versions including the 1971 LP Sticky Fingers' opening track, "Brown Sugar" featuring guitar icon Eric Clapton. While the band has prepared for and launched their North American Zip Code Tour, track after Sticky Fingers track has been released as an alternate take, acoustic version or never-before-heard renditions of fan favorites.

Die-hard Stones fans aren't strangers to the Eric Clapton slide-guitar-infused "Brown Sugar," but the track involving the fantasy partnership will finally see an official release on the Sticky Fingers June 8 reissue. On December 18, 1970 at Olympic Studios in London, the Clapton track was recorded at Stones guitarist Keith Richards' birthday party and also includes Al Kooper on the piano instead of Ian Stewart. The original album version was recorded over a time span of three days at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

Although having recently played the LP in its entirety in Los Angeles, Mick Jagger and the band were weary of continuing that method on their Zip Code Tour. "Normally in a show we'd just do one or two ballads. Sticky Fingers has about five slow songs. I'm just worried that it might be problematic in stadiums. Maybe we'd play it and everyone would say, 'Great,' but maybe they'll get restless and start going to get drinks," Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone.

It's quite obvious the Stones aren't letting age slow them down while guitarist Keith Richards already exposed ideas following the July 15 wrap-up of the tour hinting at a new studio album. "Funny you should mention that," Keith Richards said, reports Billboard. "Just last week, the word 'studio' popped up while we were rehearsing. I said, 'Well, let's find a time. I'm ready!'" The album in talks would follow up 2005's A Bigger Bang.

"I feel pretty good, actually... Sometimes at the beginning of these tours, you feel a bit achy. But I'm in good shape. It's all about avoiding being injured. You've just got to watch it and not overdo it, and you should be able to do it for a little bit longer," Jagger explained.

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Rolling Stones